Dez Bryant 'doesn't like to be touched,' so Giants plan to get physical

Newark Star-Ledger | Nov 21

The Giants have a plan to slow Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant. It involves getting in his face and being as physical as possible at the line of scrimmage.

They believe the best way to slow one of the league's top receivers is to stymie him before he gets going. Bryant doesn't like the contact.

"Get your hands on him," Giants safety Will Hill said. "He doesn't like to be touched, like most receivers in this league. But really him. He doesn't like to be touched."

It's not what you would expect from a physical specimen like Bryant. The volatile wideout stands a solid 6-foot-2, 222 pounds, with the power of a dump truck. He regularly runs through, over and around defensive backs.

Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara should be seeing plenty of Bryant on Sunday at MetLife Stadiium. He'll try to avoid being the latest defender left in the dust.

"You just have to be physical with him," Amukamara said. "He's a big guy. You just have to use his medicine against him. I think that is the key."

It's not as if the Giants view Bryant's physicality as a non-factor. But as Hill noted, it's after the catch when it becomes more relevant. It's before Bryant gets the ball that he's beatable.

"Yeah, once he gets the ball, [he's physical]," Hill said. "He has to get in his route in order to get the ball. Just like any receiver, if you get your hands on him before they can get into their route, it's hard to get him the ball when you disrupt their routes."

Bryant's had his share of success against all kinds of coverage this season. He has 52 catches for 749 yards and eight touchdowns.

Teams have tried to jam him at the line of scrimmage, double-team him with linebackers or safeties. He's seen it all as quarterback Tony Romo's go-to receiver.

The most common strategy, however, appears to be getting physical at the line of scrimmage.

"Teams do that. Dez is one of those guys that gets a lot of attention," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. "He's one of those players that a lot of teams have that becomes a focal point of the opposing defense to try and take him out of the ball game. He's faced that really throughout his career. He's done a good job and just needs to understand that is his reality."